Improvement in combined brakes and propelling mechanisms for cars



W. H i LL.

Combined Brakes and Propelling Mechanisms for. Cars.

Patented July 29,1873.

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Witnesses: 103M414 Per llnvemor:

JAM/m AM. PHDTD-LITHDGHAPHIC C0. MK I OSEORIIEs' PROCESS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIo JACOB W. HILL, OF JEFFERSON, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED BRAKES AND PROPELLING MECHANISMS FOR CARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,272, dated July 29,1873; application filed May 10, 1873.

Iowa, have invented a new and Improved.

Combined Brake and Propelling Mechanism for Cars, of which the following is a specification:

My invention is an improvement in the class of apparatus for propelling and braking railway trains, in which air is forced into suitable receivers when the train is checked, and its expansive power utilized in subsequently starting or propelling the train. The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and explicitly set forth in the claim.

Figure l in the drawing is a plan view of the bottom of a car, and a sectional elevation of the air-receivers and one of the engines I propose to employ in working out my invention and Fig. 2 is a transverse section of one of the engines.

A represents two strong hollow metal airreceiving cylinders attached to the inside of the car. B represents a couple of engines, also attached to the inside of the car, one be-. ing connected to the axles G of one end of the car, and the other to those, 0, of the other end, the two axles of each end being coupled together. These cylinders have the ordinary arrangement of induction and exhaust ports, valve and valvechest at D, and a connection,

E, with one of the receivers; also, a valve-' gear, F. They also have, at G, another connection with another receiver, with checkvalve H to prevent the passage of air from the receivers into them, and they have also passages at I opening to the atmosphere, with inlet-valves, which may be readily fastened open, so that the air will rush in and out as the pistons J work back and forth, and thus neutralize the engines when they are not required to work; or unfastened, so that under the influence of the air set in motion by the pistons they will open and close alternately,

in the ordinary operation of pump-valves. L represents throttle-valves, and M a rod for opening and closing them to admit the compressed air to the engines or not at will.

The operation will be as follows: When the train is running on a level, or when it is to be stopped or impeded by the brakes on downgrades, so that all the steam is notrequired for driving it, the throttle-valves will be closed, and the air-inlet valves I will be allowed to act, thus converting the engines into pumps, which, being actuated by the running-gear of the car, will force the air through passages G into the receivers, which are connected together, say, by a pipe, P, so that all may be filled to the extent of their capacity to retain it-say two hundred and fifty pounds to the inch; then the valves I will be fastened open to stop the pumping, or, if preferred, the pistons may be connected in any approved way so that they can be thrown out of gear; then, when the train is to start, or run up a grade, or at any time when more power is required than the steam is capable of exerting, the valves I will be released so they can close, and the throttle-valves L will be opened, thus converting the apparatus into a motive power, which, being impelled by the compressed air, will largely aid the overburdened engine in its work.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination of the airreceivers A A, connected by pipe P, the engines B B and their valve mechanisms located at E and I, pistons J connected with axles (l, the throttlevalves L, and check-valves H, all constructed and arranged as shown and described, for the purpose specified.

J AOOB WILLIAMSON HILL.

Witnesses:

JAS. F. ANDERSON, SAML. J AY- 

